A HAMSTRING problem suffered by veteran stand-off Paul Sykes added injury to the insult of Dewsbury Rams’ 46-18 home defeat by Halifax.

It was Rams’ seventh successive loss in all competitions and Sykes could be facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. Coach Neil Kelly confirmed: “He has some sort of hamstring injury.

Dewsbury Rams head coach, Neil Kelly. PIC: Paul Butterfield

“We hope it’s a strain, but we fear it’s a tear.”

Dewsbury recently signed former England Youth and Academy half-back Lewis Heckford on loan from Super League’s Wigan Warriors, and Kelly said: “Sykes’ injury may mean a call-up for him.”

There was another injury setback for Rams when forward Billy Hayes suffered medial knee ligament damage playing for Wakefield Trinity’s reserves against Halifax on Sunday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Kelly described the Betfred Championship result two days ago against West Yorkshire rivals Halifax as “unacceptable”.

Dewsbury's on-loan Wigan stand-off, Lewis Heckford.

He fumed: “We were at home, playing a side we could do well against.

“They played really well on the day, but we caved in too easily. I spoke to the players after the game about being honest. If we aren’t honest with ourselves over our shortcomings we are not going to solve them.”

The Dewsbury coach added: “We have really got to soul-search and be honest with each other and say what we are producing at the moment is not good enough.”